Books for Asia in Pakistan

The Asia Foundation's Books for Asia program has provided more than 3 million books to Pakistani organizations serving scholars, medical practitioners, nonprofits, and marginalized groups since the 1950s. The Pakistan program continues to provide resources throughout the country, including the more volatile North West Frontier and Balochistan Regions.

Status of Education in Pakistan

About one third of Pakistan's population of 167.7 million is impoverished and only 54 percent is literate. The literacy gap between men and women in Pakistan is wide, at 67.7 percent for adult men and 39.6 percent for adult women. While 67 percent of eligible children are enrolled in primary school, enrollment drops dramatically to 20 percent by secondary school. English is compulsory in middle and upper secondary school.

Current Focus

Books for Asia aims to donate around 100,000 books supplied by American publishers annually to Pakistani universities, religious and secular schools, nongovernmental organizations, public libraries, government agencies, and medical institutes across all of the provinces. More than 60 percent of all books are directed to institutions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and remote Balochistan. Book donations to Asia Foundation partners in the areas of health, economic and legal empowerment, and government reform, including the Election Commission of Pakistan, are an important part of Books for Asia's efforts.